We’re no stranger to facial massages; whether it’s a lymphatic massage done at a salon or using a gua sha tool over our skin at home, we know that there are benefits to receiving a great facial massage.

And just as we thought we’ve known everything we need to know about facial massage, we watched the Netflix Original, Bling Empire and our minds were blown.

For the uninitiated, Bling Empire is a reality show that features super wealthy Asians living in Los Angeles, giving viewers a glimpse of their social life and how they spend their fortunes.

In the third episode, billionaire Anna Shay invites her friends over to her house for a spa day. Model Kevin Kreider was expecting a regular body massage when he hopped onto the massage table, only to receive a huge shock when the masseuse stuck her hands into his mouth.

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Anna explained that he was getting a “mouth massage”.

What is a “mouth massage”?

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The “mouth massage” also goes by other names; it’s also called an internal face massage or a buccal face massage. This style of massage involves using two hands to massage the inside of your mouth.

We know that facial massages help promote blood circulation and stimulate facial muscles, and these in turn give our face a more lifted and firm look.

Think of a mouth massage as an upgraded technique. It works by applying pressure from both the outside and the inside so your skin, targeting tricky areas such as the nasolabial folds (laugh lines) and jowls, which are easier to target at when the masseuse work from inside the mouth.

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Besides giving your skin a more lifted look and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, a mouth massage is also said to help eliminate problems like jaw tension and headache.

And it looks like Anna attests to these benefits when she said, “First, I thought it was a bit odd. But it’s pretty amazing because it de-stresses you, if anything.”

Kevin also warmed up to it and mused, “This feels great. I need a girlfriend to do this for me.”

A mouth massage usually lasts an hour and offers the results of smoother skin, a more defined facial contour, and an increase in the production of collagen. No wonder the rich and famous are obsessed with this unusual facial massage!

Meghan Markle popularised the mouth massage

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The masseuse who gave Kevin a mouth massage said Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was a fan and that she does it regularly in London with facialist Nichola Joss in London.

This massage is also said to be a celebrity go-to to achieve sculpted cheekbones before attending the Oscars.

In the above video, Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh from Mixed Makeup visited aesthetician Anastasia Talan at Kosha Spa in Los Angeles to try the buccal massage when news of Meghan Markle’s beauty secret got around.

They said that it felt uncomfortable at first because there was a build-up of tension that had to be released, but once they got used to it, they relaxed. “I am in a state of pure relaxation and bliss,” Sharzad shared.

Buccal massage treatments aren’t available in Malaysia at the moment but don’t attempt to try it on yourself yet because you need special techniques to make sure you’re safe from injuries. For now, probably stick to conventional face massages and face rollers until we get it in this part of the world.